Learning Experience of my friend!

Leaving from his previous lovely and good environment work place that is full of friendly teammates and good manager where he can learn much more from, my friend started his new career at one social two-corporate-activity business: one is in the beauty sector where he has no clue about and another one in retail sector where he also owns past working abroad experience in that field. Starting from scratch to the whole operation, he seems to be the one who assists his boss to control everything in that business from accounting, admin, finance, human resources, operation, logistic work, and sales thereof. In fact, his previous educational background is in sales and marketing, and yet working there, he becomes multi-skills person. Despite the fact that he is young in term of experience and age, he possesses high commitment, hard-working attitude, friendly behavior, and analytical skill from his nature.

Initially speaking, he also discussed with his boss about his role of what exactly he will be in that business, but his boss was likely to ignore answering his question. Due to a rough deadline and tough situation for the grand opening of that business, he did not keep asking or following up with his boss, just spending his time and efforts to make the grand opening day great as much as he can. And my friend was then informed to be his assistant. Truth be told, he was happy to learn new things from his demanding and tough boss who like blaming, shouting at employees at anywhere and anytime, and expecting high result from employees. He really wants to learn good things from his boss. Unfortunately, the situation deviated from what my friend expected: he was not given any training beforehand because the tasks he held were out of his horizon, but just a few guidelines and contacting persons to work with; demotivated day by day by his boss through his tough and result-oriented behavior; and had much pressure from the operational and technical employees as the technical manager there is not able to speak a common language that can be understood. My friend was in the circumstance where he has to confront with cultural difference and manage the satisfaction of his subordinates and top management. That situation changed him from his natural behavior to become a stressful, demotivated, lack of analytical person. He rarely satisfied his boss, completed the deadline given, and initiated new ideas. Though he has enough reasons to explain his boss of why he can’t complete the deadline, his boss does not care of what was explained, but just trying to push him to go on what my friend is not good at and might take time to learn. His boss used rude words to blame him, and though he finished his work on time, there was no recognition of what he has done.

A few months later, my friend started to compare about what he has been compensated currently to what he had in the past in term of salary, working condition, and benefits. His current place does not compensate him on transportation expenses though he has to travel a lot to his boss working place. Other benefits that he gets now are even lower than that of the previous place. He can’t tolerate the way his boss complains; his boss never keeps his face. His boss can blame even in front of intern who comes to support the business team. After thinking back and forth, he can’t make a better decision to stay with his boss. He decided to quit from his working place. He also discussed with his previous professors whether his decision is right or wrong, but most of them said that it is the best choice to opt for.  

What I can learn from my friend is that working with such a boss requires us to be more flexible, have more evidences of what we work on, record what we have been given to do, and try to be very clear of what we have been assigned as much as possible in order to be able to give the arguments or proof to that type of boss. It is not the question of conquering each other, but the question of how to work well with each other and reach the targets or objectives of the company as a whole. Having the right manager is also a crucial point to be considered for future career development, but not many people can predict whether their managers are more likely to be boss-minded or leader-minded person. Not many people can have the same opportunities to have a good manager. In case of having such above-mentioned boss, the employee will need to consider and anticipate the way of work as much as they can just to make sure they are in line with what are assigned and can get along with that boss.

Community Development Activities at Veal Sbov on the 21st of September, 2013

Group discussion

The ideas of helping Veal Sbov community were come up from the PSE seminar that required all PSE staff to go to one community to see the real situation of the poor beneficiaries that PSE works with and then try to single out what would be the strategic recommendations to foster their lives and more importantly to introduce them to the paramount education. After having already seen how hard their lives are, our group, comprised of 23 people, has taken into account that we all have to do something to help them, not to let the situation as it is. Teamed up and discussed already for almost 2 hours at our office, we have already filtered three major points to work on for the next step to help the Veal Sbov community (1) fixing the made-out-of-wood bridge, which is the first priority in order for their children to be able to go to school; (2) cleaning the surrounding area of the community kindergarten and sport field for beneficiaries to be able to play sports; and (3) sharing bread to the beneficiaries.

Arrival at Veal Sbov Community

Having already agreed with each other to put these three goals as the major things – though it is just a short-term support, which is better than nothing – to help them, we finally set the date on Saturday the 21^st of September, 2013 that most of us are available. Leaving from the office at about 8:30 am, we all arrived there at nearly 10am. Standing smilingly in the middle of the crowd after parking our two cars on the corner of the road, our social team leaders, Mr. Samadi and Mr. Sitha, opened the locker of the car and took out all the materials needed for everyone in our team. Given support from Mr. Manith, employment office manager, we had a lot of t-shirts as well as hats to share to our team and villagers. Everyone carried different things including materials, snacks, woods, and the like to go to the village, and it was exciting that we can spend time together to help our community and society. 

Digging soil to put into cement bag

Fixing bridge

To make it faster with a very good and effective result, we split the team into two groups: one group to work on fixing bridge and the other one to clean the surrounding areas of sport field and kindergarten. After finalizing the ideas on how to fix it effectively, we started digging soil nearby the bridge and pack it into cement bag through which we could make the bridge stronger. With the support from the villagers and together as a team, we spent nearly 2 hours fixing it. The other group who worked on cleaning the surrounding place, also enjoyed working on that job. Although it was a bit raining while we were working, the temperature was neither hot nor cold, which was quite good for everyone to continue working on their own responsibility. Within 2 hours of fixing and cleaning, we all finished it on time as planned.

Bridge fixed

Finishing our tasks already, we kept all materials that we brought in one side and took another step to spread bread to villagers and our team. What was really great was that regardless of their status and level of education, we all ate bread together when we finished our task, which was a good team spirit. Bread was shared to everyone, and they all had a normal conversation with each other to improve relationship with our beneficiaries. Since we also took t-shirts and hats along with us, we shared one to everyone. Keeping a good memory for all, we have taken pictures together. After taking pictures, we get ready to have lunch together with our team and left there in the afternoon after relaxing for a while. All materials left after our tasks were given to villagers in case they want to fix something for public use within their community. 

Noticeably and generally speaking, everyone was really open to joining hand together to finalize this task well. We are really proud of our villagers that they have high willing and be committed to getting this job done. Within the team, thing can be done easily and quickly as it should be. Working in the team is the only thing that we could make a difference and have a greater impact on social changes as PSE planned for its long-term goals.

Group Photo with villagers